Mnet Didn't Surprise
Mnet didn't surprise me again, honestly, it's seriously driving me crazy ah, they clearly show that they look at the choreography like any other idol. They chose the ones that appealed to them. Another wasted program. prime kingz should not have been eliminated from this competition, it was the biggest loss, words are not enough, it was a very unfair program, I pity the participating dance groups.Some people's ignorant comments are annoying. Bank2brothers and prime kingz types are just too extreme. The Krumping type looks bigger, wild, and a bit exaggerated, while freestyle dancers like bank2brothers do the moves so professionally and fluidly that it seems like an easy genre. Dancing in such a flow is not for every brave man. Also the name of the program is street man fighter but it is the choreography that determines the elimination. Like a joke. Also, it's ridiculous to shoot a video and vote before the program is broadcast. and greedy I know. So there's no point in questioning the judges whose schedule is already full of bullshit.
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Golden Empire is simply gold but that gold isn’t for everyone to watch and I can fully understand why the audience would avoid a business/romance-free drama. Has it been a time when you were watching an excellent drama but you find out that most people are ignoring it and the internet buzz is almost inexistent? That’s my case with Empire of Gold.
If you want to watch this, forget about the synopsis; it’s misleading and makes you expect things you shouldn’t. This is a story about power struggle for 20 years in order to rule the golden empire which is Sung Jin Group that’s owned by the Choi family. The three main warriors are: Choi Seo Yeon; the daughter of Choi Dung Sung who’s the owner of the group, her cousin Choi Min Jae; the son of Choi Dung Jin who’s the co-founder of the group and Jang Tae Joo who built himself from scratch and came to win the Empire of gold.
Out of all currently airing Korean dramas I was watching synchronously with Golden Empire; this one managed to to snatch the top spot and remain as my top obsession all the way through; this drama excels in screenwriting and witty dialogues, this is a drama where billions were flying on the dining table and a cup of tea can decide someone’s destiny: Yes, I had to mention that because once the table is set for a cup of tea, you should know that you will be blown away by the characters’ dialogue. What I like the most about their dialogues are the metaphors, the quotes and the historical events that they use to deliver their ideas whether directly or indirectly that’s why I always thought that this drama’s writers are geniuses; not only they wrote amusing discussions but they also provided us intense thrilling events and intriguing twists without any drop of slow moments that can reduce our intention: loud claps for the most brilliant writers in Kdrama's history.
The acting department was simultaneously stunning; Go Soo, Lee Yo Won and Son Hyun Joo are astonishing actors that I can’t imagine this drama without them. Jang Tae Joo, Choi Seo Yeon and Choi Min Jae are equally alluring, smart and impressive; just get ready to cheer for them, hate them, love them, distrust them, pity them, curse them but the most important thing is that you will feel them. They led this drama and made the excitement within its storyline through the alliances, the schemes and the conspiracies that were masterminded by those three or the rest of the cast who were equally convincing as actors and highly appreciated as characters.
In a line, I want to give credit for the music that suited this drama’s business theme in a magnificent way.
The rewatch value is low because such an intense drama will lose its twists and the factor of surprise if it's rewatched.
To make the long story short; this drama isn’t directed for everyone but one thing’s for sure, it’s unlike other same-plot dramas since there are no cheesy moments, weak characters or shallow acting. This is a high class screenwriting that’s very rare to find in Korean or Asian dramas in general.
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This Is A Fever Dream
This drama is so unserious and UNHINGED! For real, who is driving this thing? My goodness these people on some crazy juice. No, but the unhinged scenes in this drama were clearly written by someone on some good arse mushrooms, expecting people with the combined IQ of a potato to enjoy it, cuz what in all things holy was this? Buuttt... I must be a potato cuz I found myself laughing like crazy, enjoying the hell out of this. I low-high-key loved how unhinged this drama was.Listen, this drama is a 5 at best. Yes its a bit silly, but if you take away all the unhinged horny stuff it's a decent drama. Speaking of unhinged, I don't even know how to explain some of the stuff that went on in this series to you without sounding like I'm making stuff up. I spent most of the show thinking I was having a fever dream. My mouth kept opening and closing cuz some of the things that happened... Susan?? You have to see it with your own eyeballs to understand/believe. I went through like four different emotions each episode: laughing, shocked, aww-ing, and most of all, confused.
No really, before I knew it, these were happening:
1: One of the characters was having sex with a cucumber, and then said cucumber got prepared as food and he had to eat it. WHAT?? HUH? WHY?
2: The main character was having sex with not one, but two pillows. It was a whole arse romantic night he had with them. He even romanced a pillow at one point to some sexy arse music, and slow motion strokes. I don't---I wasn't---BROTHER?? They could have waited until Sangmin came back to give us a scene with the pair, cuz…? Low-key though, if I could have such a good time by myself I’d totally marry myself, cuz I won’t need anyone else ^^.
3: The second couple brought out a measuring tape so they could measure and compare their junk to an elephant's trunk. I kid you not, it happened.
4: Dinneaw's mother was beating the hell out of Singmin's mother in a brawl. Like full on fighting. I laughed so hard I almost fell off the sofa.
5: The third couple were having sex with one toy in a position I think only yoga can explain, and their hotel teacher was enjoying the noise they made while having her own sexy time with a teddy bear. Who is driving this thing?? What even??
6: Sangmin flat-out poisoned his step-father and went back to eating his kimchi. FAM? What happened to that sweet boy we knew for 7 & a half episodes? I applaud him a bit for that though. Sweet revenge and justice.
7: One pair of the third couple was getting his junk stepped on repeatedly, cuz the other had a rash on his arse and didn't want sexy times. Sharon, don't ask me the colour of nothing, I don't know!
8: The second couple took off their clothes inside the house, then one of them walked outside in just his underwear, so he could walk back inside to cowboy music, so they could have western sex? Frankly, I don't know what was happening there. I know nothing.
And these were only a little of what happened in this show. The crazy horny stuff in this drama was...Susan you have to watch it yourself to understand what I'm talking about.
PLOT
I started this drama with zero expectation, but I was aww-ing throughout the first episode, cuz Sangmin is so cute trying to speak thai and Dinneaw is so adorable. I loved how this isn't like the other dramas with foreign characters where they each speak their own language and the other one automatically/magically understands them. This one is realistic, and Sangmin makes the whole thing so enduring. Finding out Singmin's real name is also Sing Min had me going awwww, cuz the way he says Sangmin ;((((( cuteness overload.
This drama started out that Dinneaw wanted to become a tour guide, and then I think the writer's had plans for Sangmin to perhaps have some sort of tumor, but then half way through they decided to go with the headaches and the mentos cure. If you rewatch the beginning episodes Sangmin had no scars on his back, and the production team didn't even care to cut those out or hide it, so clearly their main focus wasn't on plot, and it showed. They literally did not respect the viewers enough to even bother making the effect during the editing phase. But, they did have a plot, the execution of it was just so bad that many of you would probably lose a lot of brain cells and feel stupid watching it. Me, I shut off my brain and decided to go with the crazy, and it was a fun ride for me. Personally, I enjoyed every bit of it.
If you are planning on watching this, don't do it for the plot. Do it for the cute leads and how unhinged it is. If you go in expecting anything else, you'd feel stupid and end up questioning your sanity.
CHARACTERS:
At one point I was certain none of the characters on this show were normal. No really, they were all on some crazy juice, cuz what the hell Sharon? The stuff they did?? The cast were good, the script was rubbish so this isn't even on them. I can never be an actor, cuz I'd be embarrassed to show my face for Christmas if I had to do and say some of the things they did.
FIRST COUPLE: Dinneaw and Singman were almost normal. They went the classic we like each other but none of us are saying anything route. They were so sweet and fluffy and adorable. Well, that was until Dinneaw was having sex with pillows and Sangmin was committing murder with a smile.
Sangmin & Dinneaw had amazing chemistry. Petch and Sangmin did such good job with their characters. I really wished this was a serious script as well, such wasted talent on whatever the hell this was. I swear, I'd have cried if these two didn't have their deserved happy ending. Sangmin had the best innocent, clueless face ever, and the way he spoke made him so very adorable. Yes, most of their nonsense problems they went through could have been resolved if they just communicated, mostly Sangmin who had chances to say so many things and didn't. Did I want to slap him with my rubber chicken, nope, Sangmin is so baby and can do no wrong. Obviously, they were my fav couple.
SECOND COUPLE: Athit is in love with Tor, who is in love with his best friend, Dinneaw, who is in love with Sing Min. Yep, train-wreck, but they did figure it out in the end. When Dinneaw didn't return Tor's feeling they kept their friendship, and eventually, after Tor almost lost Athit, he came to his senses and accepted his love. They were also unhinged with all those on your knees stuff they did. I'm still not sure what that barn, cowboy scene was and the reason for it. They were good friends to Dinneaw and I'm glad they ended up together. They were almost normal if you look past all the stuff they did in the place they sell things that goes into people's mouth.
THIRD COUPLE: These two showed up in episode 3 and brought all the shock factor and the crazy juice. I have no idea about their backstory only that they like doing it in what appears to be impossible position with pegs and in public. I would never hire these two to work for me. That cucumber scene was disgusting, so was the scene when he put that thing on his face like cream. I don't even know how they work, one of them is so calm and normal, and the other only thinks about doing it every single second. Legit, they served no purpose to this story, they could have been replaced by a houseplant, and the story would have started and ended the same way. Crazy children.
FOURTH COUPLE: Two episodes until the drama is over they introduced another couple. Again, served no purpose whatsoever cuz they appeared like 4 times, in which we learned one of them liked the other, who likes egg on his food. And then there was a blanket scene and a kiss. What was the need for them? Another pair they could have replaced with a houseplant, cuz really, all they did was walked in and ask Sangmin to sign the forms for the operation, anyone at the office could have done it. I supposed they wanted fillers? Whatever it was, at least with their limited screen time they seemed like the normal couple out of the 4.
BOSS & PONY: That Boss who was in love with Dinneaw and turned into the devil to get him, sucked. I wanted him gone way before his assistant was sniffing his junk by the pool. Rich people really do feel so entitled, don't they? As for Pony, y'all can't even spell extra. And all the over the top antics she did, woman calm down. At least in the finale she shocked me and helped Dinneaw so she wasn't all loud and unhinged.
MRS ORN and HANA: Dinneaw's mother was amazing, she was there for him and for Sangmin. I love how she beat Sangmin's mother up when she slapped and insulted her son. Real Mother, unlike Sangmin's mother who wanted to kill him to collect his life insurance. That step-dad deserved what happened to him so much, heck Sangmin should have reached for the mother's cup too and make her a drink, missed opportunity if you ask me.
As for Hana, I liked her well enough until she made her best friend who have been abused to the point of needing surgery, who has also lost his memories by the way, leave with the mother who was abusing him. Like? May this type of friend never locate me. Then she was like, I haven't heard from him since he left. And you didn't even try to check up on him? Nah, she was so wrong for that one.
Anyway, this bl could have been good, it had good cast, a nice soundtrack, and an almost interesting plot. I just wish the writer wasn't high on mushroom and the director didn't say pass it over, cuz both of them might have been high to give us this. I'm still very sure this is a fever dream of sort, cuz I'm generally baffled by some of the things that happened. My rating is a 5 because this made me laugh in confusion from all the crazy stuffs. The extra star is purely for the main couple, I loved them.
One thing is for certain though, even with all the confusion and crazy, I enjoyed watching this drama. I was always ready to see what crazy, unbelievable thing they'd give me each episode. The drama didn't take itself serious, so I went in expecting some laughs, sweet moments between the main, and lots of unhinged stuff, which it delivered. So yeah, if you're looking for a new drama, I'll recommend this one, cuz at the very least, it's entertaining. I am seated and waiting for more from Petch and Sangmin, hopefully something sensible that matches their talents.
Anywho, thank you Sangmin Dinneaw team, and whoever gave you those mushrooms for making my Sundays a little bit less boring. I'm gonna miss the crazy.
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* A very nice and cute adaptation of an extremely popular online novel on the classic theme of teen love and school life, but with a little twist.
* First episode kinda' sucks but bear with it - it gets good.
* Honest and expressive acting by the leads
* Cute score and Music
* I love it.
So, to the longer version;
Let me start by saying that I absolutely adore this series, I love, love, love, love, love it.
Secondly, I am very prone to fangirling and therefore get all crazed up and squealing over most BL.
So I am biased, but I'll try to be as objective as possible.
And the thing is, this is not even BL. This is just about teens.
The plot is the average teen-love-school set thing, nothing original there. High schoolers are in love, fight, break up, get together, are jealous, get drunk - yada yada, you know the deal...
But - there's a twist. The main protagonists are both guys.
Tadaah - the classic BL melodrama is set for action.
But the other twist is, that it isn't. Because this differs from the other stuff.
This is not about being gay, societal issues connected to it, or even catering to fangirls.
(Ok, a little bit, then.)
This is something a little bit different. All of us BL-crazed, know that most stories in the genre are angsty, sad and usually ends tragically - after we've cried our eyes out over the forbidden love.
In Love Sick - it's not angsty, not very sad at all, no forbidden love and the whole athmosphere is a positive and happy one. This isn't a story about two gay guys in love, it's just a story about two teens who fall in love. The gender is not all that important in this case, the air is accepting and happy-go-lucky and it's SO refreshing. I love that the focus is not all that much about the two lovebirds both being guys, but rather that the trouble around them is created from other obstacles, which are universal and not related to gender nor sexuality.
The series is based on a very popular Thai online novel called; Love Sick - The chaotic lives of Blue Shorts Guys (Chunlamoon noom kang keng namgern) and very well adapted from the novel, with the difference that the two protagonists Phun and Noh aren't the only focus in the series - as they are in the novel. In the series, their friends and classmates have gotten their own storylines.
Which, in all honesty, aren't all that interesting IMO, but one or two characters have the presence to make us want to know more about them. But some of the side stories are really boring, actually.
Due to the novel being published first, the series had a huge fanbase already before it started airing and the pressure was huge to make it work.
The first episode - didn't. It's really bad as a whole and some people tell you to skip it entirely. I don't agree since there are some stuff in the end that are relevant and also, it's a good episode to go back and watch later on, when one knows the characters a bit better. But don't give up just because you'll probably find the first episode boring and pretty bad!
It gets better soon, promise.
Most of the actors in the series (if not all?) are total newbies and have never done any acting before.
And that's one thing that really impresses me since I wouldn't have guessed that. The first couple of episodes were a little bit awkward in the acting, probably the actors were getting to know their characters and getting settled in them. The two main characters, Phun and Noh, are a bit clumsy - especially Captain Chonlathorn, who plays Noh, who tends to overact in the first eps. I would imagine that it might be a little bit awkward settling into a fairly physical role with another person of the same sex in front of a camera, especially as Captain, at the making of the series, was only 16 (!!!) years old (soon to be 17 as of right now) and White Boonserm who plays Phun, is only slightly older, being 18.
But the two leads catch up quickly and turn into brightly shining little stars.
It's not that the are making ground breaking, dramatic performances worthy of a ton of awards,
but rather that they are so believable that one is completely convinced of their characters and the relationship between them. Their acting is incredibly honest and natural and their eyes and facial expressions tell whole stories in themselves.
The chemistry between them is absolute awesome and shoots sparks.
Captain is like an Energizer Bunny, all over the place, but in a way that makes one smile and fall completely in love with him. White is more calm and composed but manages to portray Phun excellently. The other actors also do a fairly good job although no as shining.
The characters and their storyline is very faithful to the original story, which is good.
The novel isn't in any way explicit, but the series are even more innocent. A lot is left for the viewer's imagination and to read between the lines.
The score and music is cute and mostly very good IMO. A couple of songs from the soundtrack I like very much, like Captain's (yes, he sings too and rather well, actually) - Khor rong, which I think is great. I also like the title song - Shake.
All the music is light and cute and stay true to the feeling of the series.
For me, the rewatch value is huge - since I've already watched through the whole thing many times...
I'm completely hooked and very engaged in the series. I follow the novel obsessively, eagerly waiting for every chapter to be translated into English by the eminent Kuda Lakorn at kudalakorn.com , who also translates and subs the fansubs of the series.
Both the novel and the series are... floaty, bubbly, shiny and light. Positive and extremely refreshing and innocent in their storytelling.
I think that most young people who like romantic stories could find the series entertaining, whether they are BL fans or not.
The series is not a masterpiece, but I will gladly rate it as an 8 overall - because I really, really love it and it has so many positive sides to it, even though it's not in any way a heavy weight.
Engaging, endearing and enjoyable are probably the keywords.
Season 2 is scheduled to air the 25;th of april 2015 - I will be benched, waiting for the translation!
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Life is about uncertainties, indeed!
I wasn't ready to expect anything from this. The most recent youth dramas, especially another drama of the exact same theme that came out last year, didn't let me to anticipate much out of this. The sole reason I wanted to watch was the cast and the "coming of age" tag to the profile. But, as I finished this, a sudden realization hit me, and I was left with awe. Will explain further.Created by Studio&NEW and broadcasted on Disney+, "Rookie Cops (너와 나의 경찰수업)" is written by Lee Ha-na and directed by Kim Byung-soo. The drama is one of the five debut projects of Walt Disney Korea, as the production giant follows the current trend of K-content.
It might not seem so at first, but "Rookie Cops" truly justifies the "coming of age" genre through it's storyline, screenplay and various elements. The young first-year freshmen at Korean National Police University (KNPU), who are passionate about their campus life, strive to grow and learn while facing challenges and tackling them together, in order to become full-fledged police officers. Keeping at centre, the lead couple, this show, in actual, puts a group of students on the pedestal, which the main couple are a part of. This should be enough to gist the story, I feel.
Given the genre and storyline, I don't think I should be writing detailed character description, as the show is hugely character-driven, emphasizing on individual growth. The group of best friends at the KNPU include Wi Seung Hyun (Kang Daniel), Ko Eun Kang (Chae Soo Bin), Kim Tak (Lee Shin Young), Gi Ha Na (Park Yoo Na), Woo Joo Young (Min Do Hee), Shin Ah Ri (Chun Young Min), Yoo Dae Il (Park Sung Joon) and Seo Bum Joo (Kim Woo Suk). The lead couple pairing is obvious but I suggest you should not guess the rest till the latet half of the show, haha. There are so many other familiar faces and mentioning them will take a while so I will just leave it upto you, to go check in the above section.
Plot development is the best thing about the drama. Let me tell you that the development is not steady, that is, it doesn't have a primary goal towards which the drama is leading; doesn't that what coming-of-age mean? The way new elements come into the scenario, get flourished and finally getting submerged into the overall essence, is what I loved about the show. The pacing was good and elements weren't really consistent, given that aspects like romance and thriller come into existence in different times and during later episodes. Nevertheless, I liked it from beginning to the end.
The freshers life in the campus, that too a specialized school like KNPU, was the primary topic, keeping senior-junior culture and school bullying at centre. As the students successfully bridge the generation gap and move forward, that's where the romancs starts, but even so, I'm glad, that part wasn't obviously showcased. The soft romance (sometimes wild, haha) was engaging and enjoyable. Also, there are more than one couple and all of the relationships depicted a healthy exchange of love, warmth and affection, including friendship and elderly as well as family aspects. Moving forward, as they throw light on academia and investigation, the thriller parts gradually start unfolding and becomes obvious much later in the second half, whilst, they had been throwing shades to it in the manner of laying a background, since the beginning of the show, if you could notice. These led to drastic events towards the ending (in the last 4 episodes). Through all these, the only thing that was constant, that was comedy; the fun elements were entertaining and it involved all the characters.
This is probably the time Lee Ha Na jakkanim sets out to continue creating amazing scripts like this. Given that she's been there for almost 8 years, this should be a breakthrough in her career. Her previous works were decent pieces but this, given to it's unique outcomes, should bring her recognition, I wish that truly from my heart. The storyline, the screenplay writing, the elements used, the character arcs and their development, and everything else has been drawn beautifully. It's a mixture of genres; romance, campus, youth, melo, thriller, family, mastery, etc. The most notable fact about the show is the appropriate proportion of different elements, placed at different portions of the story; like right thing at the right time. I feel, the writer should be praised and applauded for that.
Kim Byung Soo is a master director of the industry, having more than 10 popularly acclaimed dramas in over 15 years. All these have been reflected in this particular show, contributing to it's skills. The screenplay management, organization of elements, screen-editing, sequencing of events, cinematography, etc are well taken care of. The cinematography was apt for the campus story and slice-of-life elements with bright pallettes and shining hue. The camera work during monologues and peak moments, were of particular impression. The pacing was perfect.
Osts
What i liked...
# The slice-of-life elements...
# Breaking the barrier elements... The show introduced many elements and topic that are untypical of Kdrams, thereby initiating conversation, even so for a lil extent.
# Bromance... Not just between Seung Hyun and Kim Tak, even Daeil and Woo Seok were a part though the former were the main focus.
# Apt proportion of everything at right time... This is one of the best reasons for me which led me to like the entire show. The writer is greatly aware of what the audience wants.
# The campus romance
# The character development
# The equal emphasis on side characters
What I didn't like...
# The acting of the main culprit... I didn't like. It felt like he was overworking himself to fit into the typicality of a Kdrama psychopath business
# The one last event, which could have been avoided, it was so so so unnecessary. It doesn't really ruin the drama for me or anyone else but it's so sad, I wish that didn't happen.
# There are other things I didn't like but let's take them as immature decisions by the characters. We can't really blame the writer for those bcs those events could be one of the possibilities in real life too. So I would refrain from considering them while rating the show. (let me mention them in the later half of my review.
Final remarks... The "Rookie Cops" is overally a very good drama with perfect balance of everything, and should be watched everyone. The cast could be the primary reason you opt the show but I am sure you'll be encaptured by the story, the elements, the characters and most importantly the messages, because it's worth investing your time into. MUST WATCH.
SPOILERS AHEAD!
You can come back to read this once you're done with the show.
1) Daeil's death, something you'd imagine at the very least. It was actually unnecessary. I am happy his part of story was given proper exposure but just WHY?
2) Eunkang asking SH to handover the laptop to his Father.
3) I understand the video could not be shared but even the dumbest person will make a clip themselves from a playing video, wtf.
3) SH going to Hansol to warn him about getting him behind the bar. I didn't think he'd turn out to be this dumb.
4) Hansol inviting Kim Tak to tell him about Hyunsoo's death. It was rather funny.
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[Edited: 07/01/2020][Watch this if you like series that are adult and women-centric and highlight their struggles without demeaning them.]
This could very well have been a soap opera with only entertainment value and nothing to take from. It is all in the characters, the situations and the commentary on relationships: how incredibly human all these women (something you don't commonly witness happening on television) and men were, how real their struggles were within their workplace (especially for women), and how incredibly vulnerable relationships are.
When it comes to the plot, you could boil it down to a marriage that starts to fall apart when it is discovered that the husband had been unfaithful at one point, with workplace politics thrown in the mix. However, the execution is what matters, and that was done wonderfully. The process of the trust and marriage breaking down was very authentic to life. Na Sung Jun went through different phases as she tried to come to terms with her new reality, and those were painful to watch. She acted unlike her past convictions once she was thrust into a conflicting, heart-wrenching situation where she is left questioning everything, from people she knew to herself. The writer fleshed out her emotional struggle so realistically it was frightening - one day, she is thinking she wants out; the next day, she wants to stay married because she cannot allow her marriage to crumble; then the next, she wants out; then the next, she wants to inflict misery upon everyone, including herself. Park Sung Joon is a man who is desperate, insisting on continuing the marriage, until he accepts that the trust is broken beyond repair, and acts in more hurtful ways in his confusion (which cannot be justified). We are also shown how lack of communication and presumptions in a relationship can be damaging. All sides of the story are told: the hurt woman, the remorseful husband, and the mistress (who is more than that).
I want to point out that Park Sung Joon was written amazingly in that his story is powerful and dreadful in its truth. He reminds the viewer that the act of unfaithfulness is not a symptom that reinforces how much of a jerk the cheater is, but a path (albeit highly immoral) that a good person can also choose, in an effort to counter the torment of self-inadequacy and threat of never being accepted if their rough edges come to light; it is a part of a series of decisions they make that end up leading them to a point they can never redeem themself from. His upbringing provides insight into how an adult with personal reservations so strong can be created that even their healthy relationship makes a dark, hidden part of them feel unsafe. The writer maintains a balance in that they make you feel sorry for yet angry at him, because his insecurities and presumptions were, after all, only in his head, if only amplified (and that is what we all fall prey to, so this is why it is so scary). Not only him, but the other party were also written in a human way: an everyday person, in their search for validation and understanding, making equally unjustifiable decisions.
However, the drama is not only about them. It is about womanhood, and so we are introduced to the stories of other women. The most notable were Lee Hyun Ah and Song Mi Na. Lee Hyun Ah breaks all stereotypes surrounding self-made, confident, proud women. Yes, she walks with a straight back, and has intimidating class, but she is also a woman with principles, a good heart, and her own pains, even when they are not apparent. Then there is Song Mi Na, a woman torn between her duties towards her family and her ambitions as an individual. I personally found Mi Na’s story really moving and something many family-oriented and ambitious women can relate to.
Aside from that, the writer did not label every thing as black and white. For example, emotions such as envy and jealousy were depicted in a very normal light, something anyone, even a good person, experiences. The main characters make irrational and imperfect decisions at many points, but they redeem themselves from that point and develop themselves. Of course, those who failed to fulfill the latter were criticized (Ohn Yoo Ri and Park Sung Joon).
I do have a criticism: the writer creates some situations but never follows through with them. It is a character-driven drama, so it was expected. However, I think there were occasions the writer could have built upon.
The drama could have fallen apart had the scene sequencing not been so good. The narration was spot on precisely because of the decision to withhold exploring a scene completely, piecing some events together in a way they looked true but, as the scenes are properly delved into, show how the viewers were misled deliberately. When it comes to the cinematography and the like, my favourite thing was the little nuances that the camera work caught and the director included. They were not always made obvious, but you caught them if you were present throughout the episode. It could be one or another woman’s doubts about herself, maybe her envy for the other, or some character's lingering emotion, or something more simple. It prevented things from being dramatized and maintained the natural element and its significance. Moreover, the music complemented the scenes well - one of the reasons I looked forward to this drama; the instrumental was well done!
Now the acting: amazing. Jang Na-Ra delivered, like she always does; she was cold, miserable, strong, warm, graceful, all at once. Lee Sang Yoon did not have a lot of freedom to share his emotional range, because Park Sung Joon was a stoic man, but he was very convincing for a man who was consistently battling internally yet his internalized beliefs about himself prevented him from expressing his feelings; him and Jang Na-Ra convinced me they were a couple of ten years that was falling apart. Lee Chung-Ah was amazing in her role - I cannot imagine someone else pulling off Hyun Ah. Shin Jae Ha has great timing with his expressions, and very natural with them - you could see his growth from one half to the next of the drama as well. Kwak Sun Young made Song Mi Na’s ambitions and conflicts come to life. Pyo Ye Jin was great in her delivery of a confused, insecure, and self-victimized person. For the side characters, I want to mention Lee Jae Won (Byung Hun) - he had great chemistry with Kwak Sun Young and was great at forming an intimacy with her of a married couple.
This was a very thought-provoking show about relationships, with yourself and others. A must-watch.
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This review may contain spoilers
As A Webtoon Reader
My review for the most part is going to be coming from someone who read the webtoon and LOVED it.STORY: I know they finished this before the webtoon ended, I know they couldn't add everything because it would make the budget too high. That being said, some of the changes felt pointless. They missed the timing for some characters' deaths and then gave them pointless deaths that did not live up to their deaths in the webtoon. They added the female character and basically stripped Wook of everything that made him a good character. For Eun, they made her mean and it really ruined the sibling dynamic between her and Hyuk. For Hyuk, they rid of his "funniness." My main problem with the story is the damages they caused to the character's relationships with each other. Hyuk and Hyun's friendship was nonexistent, instead, Hyuk just used Hyun as a dog. Hyun and Jisu's relationship was switched out for Hyun and Eun. Eun and Wook did not have their friendship. Wook and Yuri's relationship was barely there. I am just disappointed with how they handled the webtoon relationships.
The monsters were watered down. In the webtoon, they were hard to kill are were always a threat. In the drama, they were easier to kill and kinda just disappeared in the last two episodes... I kinda wished the "Do I Look Good?" monster was here, they teased us with lines relating to him, but he never came :( The CGI was pretty good, the best has to be the "I Can't See" monster, he looked VERY real. Protein, the running monster, and the spider monster were goofy-looking sometimes XD
If I were to not have read the webtoon, it would not have been bad. BUT, I would have been confused on some parts because you need webtoon knowledge to understand somethings.
ACTING/CAST: they all did their parts perfectly. They all acted so well. Kudos to everyone because wow.
MUSIC: I am not gonna lie, some times the music just did not fit. I wish they would've had more intense songs instead of always using Imagine Dragon's "Warriors."
REWATCH VALUE: I could rewatch it, but I probably won't. I do not rewatch things often
OVERALL: As a webtoon reader, I am disappointed and would give it a 7.5/10. As a drama watcher, I am satisfied and would give it a 9/10. UPDATE: after rethinking it, I changed by overall to an 8/10
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Miss Truth of the Art of Death.
I was excited by this drama because the backstory sounds like a Chinese version of a favorite mystery series "Mistress of the Art of Death" which is also about a medieval female crime solving coroner who teams up with a sexy man to solve cases. Like Miss Truth, the novel is about a strong and smart woman, ahead of her time in both forensic knowledge and life attitude. I was both disappointed and relieved that this drama does not dive into the forensic aspects of the cases with the chillingly thrilling gruesome detail of my beloved novels. Indeed all of the gory props are almost cartoonishly fake and any macarbe detail is rather cursorily handled. While set in Tang dynasty, the story-line barely acknowledges the main historical characters and events of the day. Nonetheless it is a short and very enjoyable watch that really stands out in its repudiation of common tropes.The drama is about a talented and adventurous young lady coroner's journey of self discovery. As she helps solve cases, unearths Marquis Sui's legendary pearl and unveils a grand conspiracy; she also finds herself and discovers the truth of her heart's desires. The drama starts with a bang by establishing Ran Yan's credentials as a brilliant forensic analyst as she is extorted to solve a murder by the criminal underworld in exchange for her shifu's gambling debts. This tosses her right into the crosshairs of both Xiao Song, a nobleman and the emperor's trusted investigator and fixer and Su Fu, a mysterious assassin who saves her life. They are both tasked by different masters to recover Marquis Sui's pearl, which is part of a larger conspiracy that is the drama's overarching plot. The drama maintains an exciting pace, with danger and intrigue lurking around every corner and builds to a strong finish on a high note with a surprise reveal. I was only able to identify the ultimate mastermind by elimination; there were not enough clues or hints along the way to figure out their identity or motives.
As a big fan of strong, smart female characters, I was baffled by how difficult I found it initially to like newbie Zhou Jieqiong's Ran Yan. She is almost immediately and recklessly infatuated with the thrillingly inscrutable Su Fu and is unquestioning of his motives. Yet this sharp tongued vixen is distrustful of and lashes out inexplicably and ungratefully at Xiao Song, who appreciates her talents immediately and employs her as his coroner. This gives her the means to escape an unwanted marriage arranged by her indifferent father and cliche evil stepmother and half-sister. She snidely calls him a merman in a tone that implies fish face or worse, dead fish and bristles when he affectionately refers to her as his foxy lady. Nonetheless they companionably squable their way through a number of well constructed cases and become a likable and effective crime solving team. While Ran Yan is the titular character, veteran actor Toby Lee's Xiao Song is the sleuth that puts all of the clues together and truly anchors all of the cases and the drama. His character was well written and masterfully portrayed - between his teasing banter, merciless goading, stern rebukes and unyielding support he managed the prickly Ran Yan perfectly. While he arguably cut her too much slack, he knows exactly how to get under her skin. He is no doormat either and knows when enough is enough. The surrounding characters are cleverly and realistically written in a way that reacts to the other characters' flaws; for example I could totally relate to the shrewd and loyal Bai Yin's dislike and ranchor toward Ran Yan for treating his master Xiao Song so poorly.
For once, I actually enjoyed the dreaded love triangle in this drama, something I normally have zero patience for. Initially I didn't like Ran Yan so I didn't really care if she made a bad decision. Ultimately she is a resilient, strong willed character who knows her own mind, is not just defined by love and can roll with the punches so there is no tragically wrong choice for her. It is completely in character for her to break all the rules, throw caution to the wind and indulge in a dangerous, exciting and most unsuitable man - something hopefully every woman gets to do at least once in a lifetime! So does she stay with the one who loves her or go back to the one she loves? All I will say is that the triangle was fittingly, somewhat poignantly and DECISIVELY resolved. She totally manned up and picked the one with the nicest chest (a purely subjective but well researched opinion)!
While I never got to like Ran Yan (she is deliberately written to be really not that nice) and didn't emphatize with her, I reluctantly admired and respected her. This drama really showed me, someone who pounds on the table for strong female leads, that I may have been more socialized to like and accept the conventional c-drama female lead than I would like to admit.
I think all things considered (production value was not that high) this drama should be a 7.5-8.0 but I gave it a 8.0 for being so different in the best of ways in terms of avoiding most (not all) cliches, very smartly written and unconventional characters, hot male leads, exciting pace and cases and ending at the climax.
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A Treasure of the Chinese Culture
This is a beautiful but tragic story depicting a rigid, conservative and orthodox society. Adapted from a novel which tells the story of Princess Huirou and her love story, for the drama, the story shifts its focus and chronicles instead the life of the father of Princess Huirou, Song Emperor Renzong who reigned from 1022 – 1063 AD. Accordingly, many developments in the novel are not included in the drama, and Huirou’s love story becomes a side story. As a chronicle which is trying to adhere as closely to the real historical record as possible, there are no "fancy" actions, no "actual" antagonists, no "exciting" plots or extreme palace politics as we see in most other historical palace dramas. The story is just being told as how history was. So if you're a history buff and appreciate historical Chinese culture, you may fall in love with this drama. If you're expecting actions and plots, you may be disappointed. For me, I love this type of dramas which are hard to come by. Sadly, not many people appreciate it, hence probably the low rating which I feel does not do justice to this beautiful drama; this drama definitely deserves a higher rating.Many viewers may find the arguments among the ministers over trivial matters (such as the dowager empress’s attire) mundane, but it is precisely these dialogues that bring out the thinking and philosophy of the society in that era, which I find immensely interesting. Confucian moral such as filial piety, and political principles such as protocol, are utmost important at the time. I find myself listening to every sentence and every choice of words carefully, watching every facial expression and body language closely so that I don’t miss anything conveyed.
Many important historical figures are portrayed here, acted beautifully and faithfully by the various cast members. My knowledge is very limited on Chinese history and its great writers, poets, calligraphers and scholars, however upon research, I was thrilled to find them on screen and the important roles they play in history, and eventually how they shape the country. Just like the western Renaissance in the 15th century when we see the births of many great artisans, during Emperor Renzong's reign, the culture of Song Dynasty, especially literature, began to flourish. Many famous litterateurs and poets in Chinese history lived or started their creative careers during his reign, including Fan Zhongyan, Ouyang Xiu and later Su Shi, Su Zhe, among others. They became the most important litterateurs in Chinese history and also began a new era of Chinese literature.
I’m so intrigued by their etiquettes and mannerism; almost everyone speaks with so much class, self-control, poise, and they all speak rhythmically. Often, it’s like a game of reading in between the lines. Everyone is articulate. Every message is subtle and intelligent without antagonizing the other party. Each exercises the highest degree of restraint and courtesy, and yet palace politics are unavoidable as the Emperor also promotes different point of views from different factions, just like modern day politics in many democratic countries. Getting one's points across without direct confrontation is perhaps the most tactful strategy and is considered a virtue. I wish we have such virtue in today's politics. Perhaps, we'd have fewer wars and happier people. I’m so impressed to see how much value the society places on meritocracy, something that is not seen in any other countries in the era. The scholars have already understood that only with meritocracy would a country flourish. I’m also surprised to see despite an authoritarian monarchy, Emperor Renzong’s court is very democratic with checks and balances.
Wang Kai’s Emperor Renzong is brilliant, from when the Emperor was a young adult to his death at 53. Wang Kai’s acting is immaculate. He has that regal look and charisma, and yet his face radiates benevolent consistently. It's so entertaining to watch those ministers arguing over trivial matters, and the suppressed amused look on the Emperor's face, and how articulately he defuses the situations without antagonizing any parties. Wang Kai’s Renzong is a perfect emperor. Despite the glory we always associate with figures of power, Emperor Renzong’s life was filled with tragedies, regrets and resignation. As a humble and frugal emperor, we also get to see his simple and subdue outfits and unflattering palace fixtures - very different scenes from the elaborate jeweled costumes and palace grandiose that we have accustomed with. Watching the whole lives of important figures passing before our eyes, I can’t help but feel the melancholy of ancient life. Wang Kai goes from a youth to become a sickly wasted man ravaged by poor health. The beautiful verses (ci) composed by Fan Zhongyan and Yan Shu, and later sung in tenor accompanied by a flute or guqin is the most beautiful song, capturing the melancholy, fitting the mood of the drama perfectly.
One of my favorite characters is Empress Cao (Maggie Jiang). Seeing her change from a fearless young lass who disguises as a boy to attend class with fellow male students, to a scrupulous regal lady when she becomes the Empress respected by all including her enemies, is the most fascinating watch. She is the one who always makes the most articulate decisions and resolves all issues which everyone submits to. Maggie Jiang’s empress is beautiful and elegant. Highly intelligent not second to the Emperor, the Empress unfortunately lives a very resigned life. I cry in my heart for her in every episode. Her longing for the Emperor is not being reciprocated openly though he has strongly wanted to, but each time, the turn of events just prevents them showing their love and admiration for each other. That’s perhaps the most frustrating part for me, seeing both love but missing the chance to show their affection time and time again.
But my favorite character of all is Huirou the Princess, although in the drama, she's only a side character. Many viewers feel she's spoiled and has behaved badly. To me, she's ahead of her time. Had she been born in today's world 1,000 years later, she would have been a world leader loved and respected by all. She is very filial pious and kind. She loves her people. Never once has she thrown a tantrum towards her palace maids nor hurt anyone, unlike the other spoiled princesses we're so accustomed to. However, she's the type who can't stand bullies and stands up against them, either for herself or for others, and that's unacceptable in that society when the bullies are the elders (in status or age). Unlike girls in those days, she has her own mind and doesn't want her life to be arranged and controlled like a puppet. Unfortunately, being a princess, she doesn't have the luxury to do what she wants; she's a state own property. And that's a disaster for a character such as hers. Had she been a man, she would have been revered for her courage and upstandingness, but for a girl in a male chauvinistic society, poor Huirou is called spoiled, selfish, stupid, and uncouth. In the later episodes, every time when she comes on screen, I can feel her screaming silently, "Live free or die". My heart aches for her. Nobody but Liang Huaiji understands her and knows she's suffocating under the system. That's why she has such a strong bond with him. As what Huaiji has said, he's her "floating timber" [in the ocean].
I’m so amazed by the acting of all the child actors. They are adorable and very good with their respective roles. I’m most impressed by Bian Cheng who portrays the Liang Huaiji character. Extremely good looking at 15, Bian Cheng’s acting is one of the best, and he has a promising acting career ahead of him. I’m eagerly waiting for his next drama playing a main role.
Eunuchs are normally loathed characters and I’m usually weary of them, but this drama produces 2 well loved eunuchs in Zhang Maoze (Ye Zuxin) and Liang Huaiji (Bian Cheng). I even secretly wish they were not in those positions so that they can love and find happiness in marriages.
Seeing a moral standard the historical figures have set for themselves, I often wonder if our modern day’s standard even comes anywhere matches that of the ancient time. While the western nations were still groping in the Dark Ages, China was already so advance in art, science and technology. It's a nice surprise to realize that golf, among many other sports, was an ancient game played by the Chinese.
If you want a heart-wrenching love story, wuxia actions, scheming palace politics, or bitching harem, no, this drama doesn't have these. But if you love authentic Chinese history and like close to real life historical experiences, this one is a very great watch. Having said that, Huirou's and Huaiji's love story is heart-wrenching, albeit just for a few episodes towards the end.
TWO THUMBS UP!
For viewers who understand Mandarin, these videos provide valuable information on the drama and its real historical characters:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1OYepyRtv6CTutyZDa7SGhqESI4pWITB
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This review may contain spoilers
No No No No La La No
WTF!!!!!!!!!If someone I loved pretended to be dead for 5 yrs and suddenly appeared in front of me, I wouldn't even want to look at their face.
The grief from death isn't the same as the grief from a breakup.
The writer had been playing with this since the beginning by giving the doctor a case of pills to carry everywhere. Writers should stop trying to make the audience cry. At this point they just seem like the bad teacher that hits you so you become better. This is not a healthy way of creating emotions in people.
The last few 4 or so episodes seemed like fillers with lots of throwbacks and nonsensical plot lines.
It's ok to make dramas shorter. If a story can be told better in fewer episodes, do it! It's better than spoiling a story that was good to begin with.
This idea of going through hard times alone even if you have loved ones is an Asian ideal that I can't really understand and I believe it's so damaging considering the mental health and suicide issues that are so prevalent there. Especially in South Korea. We've seen so many idols die to suicide. Pushing this idea that you have to endure hardships alone and come back to your loved ones when you're "not broken anymore" and not cause them "trouble" is something that might make this issue worse.
I can't stand by this drama anymore. The ending message is very damaging to those suffering from any sort of illness.
I'm not even going to speculate about the ending. It doesn't matter. It is what it is. And it doesn't do it for me.
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This review may contain spoilers
This review is intended to be a personal opinion. I do not encourage or discourage people from watching what they like. It is intended to give you an idea of what to expect, but I always say, "watch and make your own judgement."IF you like a series that has drama and gives you a heartache as well as headache, this is the one for you. Be warned, you will find yourself wanting to go through the tv or computer screen (what ever device you are watching this from) and shake all of the characters and yell "snap out of it" (thank you Cher!) I for one enjoyed the story.
Why the warning? Because...
This series it's frustrating, it's not fluffy, it can be annoying at times, but it's also funny, it's engaging, it tears at your most basic needs when it comes to love and unrequited love. The characters are so flawed that most times we either cheer for them or boo them. While some may find the premise of the story annoying, I'm actually happy that we got to see a different side of relationships. Not all relationships are stable, not all relationships are rainbows and unicorns, sometimes they are a bit toxic or imbalance in the sense that someone gives more than 50% while the other takes more from it. It was a well acted drama nonetheless.
Khai is an unlikable character in the beginning of the story. He is narcissistic, arrogant, self-centered and a man-who*re. But he is a college student who lives his life as he sees fit, regardless of who he hurts so long as he gets what he wants. Those attributes are a turn off for many viewers, but Khai is a character that does exist in real life. By the middle of the series, we still don't see what's so great about him other than his looks, but we are told to believe that he has some great redeeming qualities. It is why Third is in love with him. Which brings me to another point, WHY IS HE in love with Khai? We never really get to know this. However, Khai does start to show some good qualities, such as when he tried to not interfere between Third and An when he believed them to be together.
Third in the beginning of the series was a character many people empathize with and wanted to protect, but from my point of view, he was equally to blame for his own misery. He had plenty of reason to move on from his love from Khai (specially when Khai treated him like crap) yet didn't. But, this type of character again, does exist in the real world and some people have a hard time learning to love themselves enough to say "I'm better than this and I can find someone better than him."
CAST:
Gun as always takes on the character's story and gives it life. He is able to portray the flaws of the character excellently and you believe him 100%.
Off's acting has improved quite a lot from his previous works, While many may be used to his comedic side, it's nice to see that he can have range in acting. He portrayed an unlikable character quite well, evident by how many viewers did not cheer for him.
White: His character was a great supportive friend to Third. At times I actually said, "Third go for Two"
The rest of the cast did really well in driving the story along and while I would have loved to see more of the side BL couple of Earth and White, it's typical of Thai BLs to never truly develop secondary couples.
onto the Technical stuff
Cinematography: Amazing use of color, wide-shots, close shots, Etc. The team took great care in the way they filmed this .Music: Amazing music and great use of it in the drama. Did not seem out of place at all.
Inspiration: I really enjoyed that the drama was centered around classic romc-coms and that each episode was titled after those movies.
Cons: I didn't like the trope of the teacher and student relationship. It wasn't organic and just belittled both characters in my opinion.
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A once in a blue moon treasure that is enchanting, magical and extremely addictive
After being sorely disappointed by the infamous 'Descendants of the Sun', I've learnt that the 'hype' surrounding a drama does not always translate to an enjoyable watch for everyone. So when this massively popular show popped up under my radar, I wasn't sold yet. At the time, I didn't get why 'The Untamed' was so popular and well-received. The synopsis seemed messy, the cast did not consist of any veteran actors, and the production value was not very high. But after digging a little deeper and reading reviews and recommendations, it seemed as if everyone was loving this show. So I decided to give the show a chance to live up to its expectations. It only took a few episodes before I was completely hooked and now, 50 episodes later, I can confidently say that 'The Untamed' is one of the best Asian dramas I've seen to date. This show has cemented a place in my heart and I feel torn having to part ways with Wei Wu Xian and Lan Wang Ji and the cultivation world.Story:
Not trying to take anything away from the acting, execution or production of the show, but the story is what elevates this drama into the tier of the elites. The plot is complex and the synopsis does not do the story justice. The show is based on the BL(boy's love) novel 'modaozushi' (魔道祖师), with the only major change being the lack of on-screen BL scenes. (mainly because of Chinese censorship. For me personally, this wasn't a particular drawback, because even without the direct display of affection, I interpreted the relationship between our male leads as something much more than just friends. Moreover, there is so much more to the story than just the relationship between the two male leads.) The generous 50 episodes means that the show can set the background and flesh out all of the characters thoroughly. The show may seem a bit slow-paced at first, especially in the few episodes of introduction, but then it rapidly picks up momentum and stays that way for the rest of its run. The show will take you on an epic adventure filled with action and battle, but also goes far beyond just that. There is an emphasis on relationships, whether it'd be friendship, sisterly/brotherly love or romantic love. Although the major focus of the story is the 'bromance/love' between the two main male characters Wei Wu Xian and Lang Wang Ji, the rest of the characters are interesting and layered as well. The storyline is well-paced, exciting and balanced, setting a solid foundation for the show to build upon.
Acting:
The voice actors for the characters were phenomenal and bought depth and emotion that most normal voices just cannot achieve. There are many notable mentions for the cast, but let's first talk about the two male leads. Xiao Zhan who plays Wei Wu Xian brings his lively, playful and good-natured character to life. Wei Wu Xian is portrayed in a way that makes him very easy to like and to root for. Xiao Zhan conveys his emotions through his vivid facial expressions and gives a very natural performance. Wang Yibo who plays Lan Wang Ji may come across as a little stiff and emotionless at the start due to his polar-opposite personality compared to Wei Wu Xian. But he softens up throughout the drama and I found Wang Yibo's ability to convey with his eyes particularly impressive. A standout for me was Meng Ziyi (Zoey) who played the character Wen Qing, a top doctor of the Wen Clan. Her character was strong and independent, and although she has a cold, harsh exterior, she has a good heart and righteous intentions. My view on her character changed drastically throughout the drama and I went from initially disliking her, to her becoming one of my favourite characters. And to top it all off she's very pretty.
Cinematography/Effects:
The visuals of this show are splendid. The production value may not have been very high, but the show was still very aesthetically pleasing to watch. Lotus Pier and Cloud Recesses, the home of the Jiang sect and Lan sect, were breathtakingly beautiful, especially the amazing natural landscape. The special effects were nothing exceptional but they served their purpose and did not look exaggerated or choppy. The decorated robes worn by the characters gave them a noble, majestic look. The editing and directing was done well and the show was consistent and smooth throughout. In terms of the overall viewing experience, this show is very beautiful to watch.
Soundtrack:
The soundtrack of this show is easily one of my favourites. The obvious highlight is the duet by Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo "无羁 / Unrestrained". I really liked the use of traditional instruments in this track, especially the bamboo flute. It was also a nice touch to have a solo, duet and instrumental version of this song. Even though the three versions are similar, the duet felt more powerful and emotive, whereas the instrumental was less pronounced and more of an accompaniment. I also grew to like the bamboo flute as an instrument because it can bring out so many different emotions, especially the sad and reminiscent ones. The sheer number of tracks released also prevents the soundtrack from becoming repetitive and allows different tracks to be used generously to establish the mood and enhance scenes.
Sometimes the best things in life creep up on you unexpectedly, and all it takes to discover them is a bit of patience and an open mind. Just like how one shouldn't judge a book by its cover, before you decide this show isn't for you, give it a watch. It only took a few episodes of 'untamed' magic to shatter my assumption that the show wouldn't be to my liking. 'The Untamed' is a rare gem that lives up to the hype. Definitely give this drama a shot and discover the wonderful world that awaits!
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This review may contain spoilers
Destiny is all about the choices we make and the chances we take
I never liking "The Main Guy" in any version of "Fated to Love You" before, but I have an exemption for Wang Xiyi.His character is more well-written, more lovable, and more sensible 一 so, I'm giving second chance to this drama.
I love how they modified this drama into a fresh one, and less-evil schemes and characters.
From the "Marriage by Accident" to "Accidentally Married," I got good laugh by this kind of accident.
Even tho it was turned to he is cheating his girlfriend, for me it was much better than cheating his wife later on.
As we are knew from previous remake and original story, the ML is supossed to drugged by FL's uncle(in law), and that was the ultimate reason why ML is sleeping with another girl, even thinking he was slept with his girlfriend.
I'm glad for this version, they are changed the whole about that night. So, the ML is reflect on his own mistakes, instead blaming someone else for the incident to happen.
And I like the way the FL is changed thru episodes.
You can see she start to change her apparance, her character, and her confidence.
I really love this part. She is willing to change because of ML not because she was hurted by ML.
Unconciously, Xiyi is always help her to boost her confidence and ask her to change a little for his sake too. So I found Xiyi is very doting as husband; even tho he always told himself that all was because he is Ximi's father.
I also like how Jia Xin is freely to choose what is she want to do, they didn't ask her to resign, but instead Xiyi is change her position and job to make her work less and being respected by other coworkers. Even tho Jia Xin is slowly resign, not because she was asked to but she want to.
I do pity Anna, in this version, she is the victim. But I don't really feel sorry because she always put herself first.
She is the most shameless person I've ever seen. I had enough of her bullshit and useless effort towards the end.
Actually I like how Xiyi slowly to draw line between them as time passes so Anna realize that Xiyi doesn't love her anymore.
Like other cdramas, we are always got secondary couple.
Anson's finally got a loveline!!! His life isn't revolved around his boss anymore.
I love Anson is always sarcastic and blatant-ly talking to Xiyi whenever he does mistakes.
His love-story with Jia Xin's friend, Siqi (Yes, our snail also finally has a loyal-friend), is quite cute. I love to see their bickering yet romantic even tho it just a contract relationship.
After the miscarriage incident, actually I cried a lot.
Ofc it'd hurt to anyone who experience this kind of thing, especially they are waiting the baby to born.
Both Xiyi and Jia Xin having hard time to face each other. Both of them are blaming themselves much.
It is understandble for Jia Xin to leave, she need times more than anything.
It's ended safely but I feel a little bit unsatisfied with how they solved the paper incident.
Anyway, this one is good and enjoyable to watch. Not a really tearjerker because I find Zhaolin's crying is funny to watch.
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* Story:
Ryuzaki Ikuo and Danno Tatsuya are two orphans who grew up in an orphanage called Mahoroba. When they were there the woman who took care of them and was like a mother to them got killed by someone before Ikuo's eyes. The were threatended by the police not to reveal anything and the case was mysteriously covered up. Determinded to take revenge for her death, 20 years later, Ikuo has become a detective and Tatsuya has risen to the ranks of Yakuza, in order to find the truth and expose her murderer.
(Based on the manga series "Ouroboros" by Kanzaki Yuuya)
It may sound cheesy, but believe me it's a lot more complicated and unpredictable than what it's expected to be, keeping you on edge up to the very end.
* Acting/cast
the two protagonists: they were both very realistic and convincing. When it comes to Oguri, everytime I see him in a drama/movie, I'm blown away by his acting skills and talent and this time was not an exception. Ikuta on the other hand, did a fantastic job as well. I always liked his acting, but I think now he has matured as an actor and he was absolutely flawless.
the rest of the cast was excellent too, especially Ueno Juri, who supported her role really superbly. So were the two sweet kids who played litte Ikuo and Danno.
* Music
One word : fantastic. The main OST "no one" by ENA and Sakura by Arashi fit perfectly to the drama's atmosphere and to characters's psychology, linking harmonically to the plot
* Overall
a fantastic drama with a great bromance, much suspence, a little bit of romance and plot twists, leading to an unexpected climax as it is progressing, that will draw you in feels.
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